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Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

Was fun to do this Q&A with the good folks at 33 1/3 about my new entry on the B-52s’ Cosmic Thing!

333sound.com/b-52s-pete-c...

33 1/3 Author Q&A: A closer look at The B-52s' Cosmic Thing

Pete Crighton introduces his addition to the 33 1/3 series: Cosmic Thing, an album that solidified The B-52s as icons of pop culture and queerness.

333sound.com

October 24, 2025 at 7:33 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

Thrilled to be featured in The Quietus today!

The Quietus @thequietus.com · Sep 14

In an exclusive extract from his new book for Bloomsbury’s 33 1/3, author Pete Crighton explores the backdrop to the making of the Athens, Georgia band’s mainstream breakthrough

How Cosmic Thing Became the B-52s’ Horniest Record in Years

buff.ly/m5zmcfi

The B-52s - Cosmic Thing album cover. Photograph of the band tinted blue, yellow and pink .

September 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

Its publication day for my 2nd book! What a thrill to be included in this incredible series and an honour to represent the B-52s! 💕

33 1/3 Books @3313books.bsky.social · Sep 4

The B-52s' Cosmic Thing and Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)* are officially publishing in the 33 1/3 series today, and you are definitely going to want to add these to your collection. 📚

*Coming November 2025 for UK-based Erykah fans!

September 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

I’m HOT this week! @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social says so! Cosmic Thing available wherever you get your books! 💕🥰

Bloomsbury Academic @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social · Aug 1

Check out our #nonfiction books and authors that are hot this week!

📚💙 bit.ly/4jM73YT

@petcri.bsky.social

#AcademicPublishing #AcWri

August 26, 2025 at 6:10 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

New piece up on @queerty.com - your alternative Pride playlist just in time for weekend festivities! Check it out: tinyurl.com/ALT-PRIDE

June 23, 2025 at 11:53 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

Thanks for including The Vinyl Diaries in your Pride reading list @greggsha.bsky.social - happy Pride everyone! 🏳️‍🌈📕🥰
#gaybooks #queerbooks #pridereading

Gregg Shapiro @greggsha.bsky.social · Jun 16

New books column in LAVENDER MAGAZINE. #pridereadinglist
lavendermagazine.com/featured-hom...

Pride 2025 reading list: Spins, Screens and a Stage | Lavender Magazine

Since 2003, the 33 1/3 book series has provided in-depth analyses of albums from as early as the late 1950s to as recent as the late 2010s. Not to be outdon ...

lavendermagazine.com

June 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

So great to see a feature article and excerpt from my book on @queerty.com today! Read some of my thoughts on @madonnachat.bsky.social - what a thrill!

www.queerty.com/pete-crighto...

When his date cried to Madonna's "Like a Prayer," Pete Crighton knew it was over - Queerty

Vinyl records and gay romance collide as author Pete Crighton drops the needle on decades of queer adventures.

www.queerty.com

May 20, 2025 at 12:44 AM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

Doing my first tv appearance with CP24 was a blast! What a beautiful thing to be allowed to talk about this book! Feeling very grateful and lucky!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=78PP...

Musician, author Pete Crighton talks new memoir 'The Vinyl Records'

YouTube video by CP24

m.youtube.com

May 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

This conversation with @mattbaume.bsky.social was a joy! Thanks for having me Matt - have a listen friends, it’s a fun one!

Matt Baume 🏳️‍🌈 @mattbaume.bsky.social · May 8

This week's episode of the Sewers of Paris podcast is about finding your muse. www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shown...

May 8, 2025 at 10:15 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

What a joy to talk with this super kind and sweet man! Click through to have a listen to a deep dive on my book!

Toronto Mike @torontomike.com · May 7

In this 1688th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Pete Crighton, author of The Vinyl Diaries: Sex, Deep Cuts, and My Soundtrack to Queer Joy, about his lively memoir of sexual awakening, music, and discovering one's true self.

www.torontomike.com/2025/05/pete...

Pete Crighton: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1688

In this 1688th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Pete Crighton, author of The Vinyl Diaries: Sex, Deep Cuts, and My Soundtrack to Queer Joy, about his lively memoir of sexual awakening, music...

www.torontomike.com

May 7, 2025 at 2:59 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

My friend @christopher-r-m.bsky.social did a beautiful thing to support Indie Bookstore Day!
You could too! 😘🥰

Christopher @christopher-r-m.bsky.social · Apr 26

For Independent Bookstore day today I pre-ordered my budddy @petcri.bsky.social’s soon to be released book The Vinyl Diaries from my fave local bookstore, Type Books on Queen.

Really looking forward to reading this in a few weeks and celebrating queer joy at the book launch soon.

A screenshot of a book cover, The Vinyl Diaries by Pete Crighton.

A poignant, funny, and lively memoir of sexual awakening, music, and discovering one's true self.

Pete Crighton came of age in the early/mid 1980s in the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Growing up in Toronto, he was terrified that his friends and schoolmates would find out that he was “different” at a time when being gay felt like a death sentence. His only comfort was music, the songs a balm to his painful adolescence.

Struggling to make sense of his sexuality and fear of the disease stifled Crighton as a sexual being. Instead of exploring sex, he began curating a massive music library. He then took what he thought was a safe path and entered into two long-term monogamous relationships, both doomed to fail. Finally, in his 40s, Crighton decided to ignore his fear and live his queer life to the fullest.

The Vinyl Diaries is the story of Crighton’s mid-life sexual awakening. From one-night trysts to friendships resulting from app-based hookups, Crighton is honest and unapologetic as he chronicles the pursuit of his erotic desires. Each new connection and lover is linked to an artist, song, or album from his vast collection and backdrops the stories Crighton tells about his life, interconnected with the artists' work and histories. Kate Bush, the B-52s, Prince, The Smiths, Yoko Ono, and Stevie Nicks are just a few of the artists who provide an extraordinary soundtrack to Crighton’s adventures.

Big-hearted, funny, thoughtful, and wildly entertaining, The Vinyl Diaries is a celebration of sex, music and the discovery of our true selves.

April 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

It's me and @nikostratis.com rocking the @westendphoenix.bsky.social
Thank you friends. 💖

March 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

Week 1 of voice work narrating my book The Vinyl Diaries is DONE! Fun, rewarding and very, very hard! Mad respect for voice actors!!! (Two more weeks to go).

February 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

I was lucky enough to get this assignment and write about Queer Arm Wrestling for @westendphoenix.bsky.social - go get that subscription! Thanks WEP!

West End Phoenix @westendphoenix.bsky.social · Feb 16

Coming in the pages of our next issue, a look at Toronto’s only queer arm wrestling club, where everyone, from noodles to muscle marys, gets a seat at the table.

SPORTS / MUSIC ISSUE COMING NEXT WEEKEND!

www.westendphoenix.com/subscription...

February 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Pete Crighton

@petcri.bsky.social

My first review from the incomparable Paul Bellini (Kids in the Hall, Mouth Congress): "The Vinyl Diaries is a brisk, fun read with lots of nostalgic touches." What a thrill!
www.mygaytoronto.com/bellini/2025...

The Vinyl Diaries: boyfriends are music - Paul Bellini - MyGayToronto

www.mygaytoronto.com

February 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM